Holder for cards, pictures, and the like.



APPLIOATIODN FILED JUNE 17, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jnz/en/Za7"/ Jam/e6 Jfur/" y Wza/uurrz;

J. M. WASHBURN.

ES, AND THE LIKE. UNE 17, 1911.

HOLDER FOR CARDS, PIOTUR APPLICATION FILED J Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' here in extended JAMES MURRAY WASHBUBN,

OF CHICAGO, IALLINOIS.

HOLDER non cnnns, PICTURES, AND TIIE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 17,1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912. Serial No. 633,857.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES MURRAY WASHBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Holders for Cards, Pictures, following is a specification. v My invention relates to holders for such articles as cards, pictures and the like, and has for its object the provision of a holder which is constructed'of sheet metal and has readily adjustable parts for sustaining objects of different heights and thicknesses in substantially upright position without danger of their toppling over.

Broadly considered, the holder of my in vention comprises a horizontally adjustable holding portion at the front end for receiving and sustaining the desired article in sub stantially upright position and a horizontally extensible base portion to vary the effective base length of the holder in accordance with the size of the supported article.

In the accompanying drawings which show two forms of holder embodying my invention, Figure 1 isa perspective view of one form of holder; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the front and rear memposition; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal view in cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the various parts of my holder in disassembled relation to show more clearly the structural form of each part; Fig. 5 is a'transverse cross-section on line 5- 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of holder; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the front and rear members in extended position; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig; 9 is a transverse cross-section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the different parts of the holder in disassembled relation for the sake of clea'rness.

I will first take up the descri tion of .the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inciiisive. The three parts or members which comprise the holder are, as a whole, indicated by A, B hnd C---A being the central member, B the ront member which cooperates with the entral member to sustain the desired article and C being the rear or of these parts or memn upright position, ase member. Each and the Like, of which the hers is formed of sheet metal. The central member A comprises a horizontal body section 1 from the front end of which the metal is turned upwardly and at 2, then downwardly and rearwardly at 3 and then. forwardly at. 4 over the body section 1. The portions 2, 3 and 4 may broadly be referred to as an upright su porting extension on the central member At the sides the central member A is turned downwardly and inwardly to form a pair of guide flanges 5 between which the front member B and rear member 0 are adaptedto slide, as will presently be explained. An opening'ti is provided on the body section 1 to accommodate the clamping screw for holding the parts in adjusted position. The front member B has a tral member A and thereby has a slidable connection with this member. At its rear end the member B is provided with a longitudinal central slot 8 through which the clamping screw 9 passes. At its front end the member B is turned lip 10 which cooperates with the supporting extension on the central member A to sustain the desired article in substantially upright position, as indicated in dotted lines at P in Fig. 3. The article P may be a card, icture, book or the like. It will be seen rom Fig. 3 that the lower front edge of the article P bears against the upturned lip, the article leaning bodily against the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 2 of the central member. The rear or base member Cconsists of a body section 11 pr vided with a central longitudinal slot 12. The rear end of the member 0 is turned down to form a tubular bearing flange 13. The body section 11 is adapted to slide between the guide flanges 5 on the central member A. The space between the flanges 5 and the body section of berA is suflicient to slidably accommodate the body sections 7 and 11 of the front and rear members, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The clamping screw 9 projects through the opening 6 in the central member A, through the slot 12 in the rear member C and through the slot 8 in the front member B. The lower end of the screw engages a nut 14 which fits snugly between'the flanges 5, as shown in F ig. 5 and is thereby held against rotation when the screw is tightened body section 7 adapted to engage the flanges 5 of the cen-' provided with an up rearwardly the central mem- 10 inclusive, the

or loosened. The front bearing point of the holder, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is at 15, while the rear bearing point is at 16 on the flange 13. If desired, however, the lip 10 may be extended downwardly at the bottom to provide the front bearing point of the holder.

It Wlll be seen from the above that my new form of holder is readily adjustable at the front to" accommodate articles of ferent thickness and is also adjustable at the rear to vary theeflective base length in order to provide the proper amount of stability for the supported article.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to front member is formed differently from the front member of the form shown in Fi s. 1 to 5 inclusive, otherwise there is no difference between the two wardly over the extension without interference by the forms of holders. In the modified form of holder, the front member B consists of a body section 17 having 'a central longitudinal slot 18 at at the front. This extension is formed by bending the metal downwardly at 20 and cutting the metal away at the points 21 on either side of the neck portion 20. The metal thus cut away is preferably bent for- 19, as indicated at 22. At the front end the extension 19 is bent upwardly to form the lip 23. The body section 17 is adapted to engage the longitudinal flanges 5" formed on the central member A As the extension 19 is offset downwardl with respect to the body section 17, the la termay be slid inwardly extension. The

turned-down'lugs'22 may engage the under C, like the member side'of the flanges 5' and thus form bearing points between the; central member A and the front member B. However, it is to be understdod that these bearing points between the flanges 5 of the central member A and the front member B are not necessary', and that the turned-down lugs 22 may be entirely omitted if desired. The central member A, like the central member A of the form described first, is turned upwardly and rearwardly at 2,

then downwardly and then forwardly at 4: 1. The rear member Cofthe first form, is longitudinal slot 12 and flange 13 at the rear end. The screw 9 is adapted to extend through the opening 6 in the central member A and through the alined slots 12 and 18. The lower end 'of the screw 9 engages a nut which consists of a small rectangular'plate 24 having a boss 25 formed thereon. The screw-threaded openrearwardly at 3 and over the body section provided with ing 26 formed on the parts 2 1 and'25 of the nut receives the free end of the screw .9. The plate portion 24 of the nut fits snugly between the flanges 5, as shown in Fig. 9,

dif-.

the rear and an extension 19v supporting order to prevent t while the boss 25 fits into the slot 18 of the central member B. In this way a deep bearing surface for the screw 9 is provided without the necessity of projecting the free end of the screw beyond the nut. As seen from Fig. 9, the plate portion 2 1 of the nut is flush with the flanges 5. By loosening the screw the front and rear members of the holder may be extended into the proper position, whereupon the nut is tightened to firmly clamp the parts in adjusted position. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be observed that the lower surface of the extension 19 lies in the base line or plane 27 which also touches the bearing flange 13 at the bearing point 28. No matter what position the front member B is in, the holder will always rest at the front on the flat lower surface of the extension 19, while the rear hearing point of the holder is at 28. No part of the holder between the extension 19 and the bearin point 28 touches the bearing plane 27 w ich may be considered to be the top of a table, bureau, shelf or the like. The extension 19 and the flange 13 being of smooth metal, there is no liability of the .surface underneath becoming scratched" by thermore, t

ed by the extension 19 imparts to the holder the metal of the holder. Fur: e broad bearing surface afford.

an unusual amount of stability. The adjustability of the front member 'B permits articles of different thickness to be supported on the holder-articles which may vary in thickness from that of an ordinary photograph to an inch or more. It will be observed from Fig. 8 that the body sections of the three members incline downwardly in a forward direction. It is, therefore, necessary to first swing the holder bodily about the rear flange 13 until the body sections are in substantially horizontal position, be fore there is any real danger of the supported article tippin over backwardly. In e supported article from accidentally tipping over in a forward direction, I provide a suitable connecting member 29 which is shown for the sake of illustration in the form of a small chain. One end of this chain is attached to the rear of the base member C" in any suitable manner, as by means of a cotter pin 30 passing through an opening in the flange 13'. .The free end of the chain 29 is provided with a sharp pointed hook 31 which is adapted to be stuck into the back of the supported pic ture or card. In thissway the article hecomes anchored to the'rear of the base and is thus held against being accident-ally tipped over toward the front.

It is, of course, obvious that the eonnect= ing member 29 may take other forms besides that of a chain, but cheapness and flexibility, I prefer t e connecting member 29 in the 'form of a chain.

because of its li htness,

It is to be understood that the form of holder shown in. Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive may.

be provided with the chain 29.

ile I have herein described certain specific forms of holder embodying my inven-' tion, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, since changes and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art without -'de.-

part-ing from the scope of myinvention as defined in the appended claims. I Having thus described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure. by Letters Patent of the United States is:

scribed, comprising a central member hav-.

ing a horizontal body section provided with said flanges, said base section having longitudinal guide flanges on the bottom I side, an upright supporting extension formed at the front endof the body section; the metal of the-extension beingv first bent upwardly and rearwardly, then downwardly and rearwardly, then forwardly over the body section, a frontmember consisting of a flat base section offset to form a bearing surface, and an extension slidably engaging an u turned li at the front to engagethe lower edge of t e supported article, a rear-member slidably engaging said flanges and provided,

at its rear end with a downwardlyturned bearing flange the holder rest" 7 nta if flat base section at the .fr bearing flange at the rear.

sheet metal holder of, -fi

scribed, comprising a central member hav-' ing an upright supporting extension'formed 3 r in slidable at its front end, a front. membe engagement with said central memb'ensaid front member having an upturned lip which cooperates with said upright extension to support the desired article in substantial upright position, a base member slidably connected with said central member to vary.

the effective base length of the holder and a single clamping means passed through all of said members and holdingthem in adlongitudinal guide wardly, then downward then forwardly over the body section,a front 'member in slidabl'e engagement with the l "flanges of said centra remember being provided with a longitudinal justed relation.- i p 3. In a sheet metal holder of the class de scribed, comprising a central member hava ing a horizontal bodfly section provided with anges, an upright supporting extension formed at. the front end of the body section,- the metal of said extension being first bent upwardly and rearmember, said front slot at the rear and with an upturned lip at thefront, said lipcoiiperating with said (upright extension to support the desired article,a slotted rear member slidably enthe flanges of the central member bearing pointof the holder, a screw 1. A sheet metal holder of'the' class de-' on 1 on -said taini y and rearwardly," scribed,-comprising a central member having right supporting section formed at the front end thereof, a front member in 'slidable -en-' tudinal slot at the rear and with an n turned lip at the front, said-lip cooperating wlthsaid upright extension to supglort the. desired article in substantially upng t position, a slotted rear member slidably engagng said central member and provided at its rear with a downwardly turned flange which forms therear bearing point ofthe holder,

a screw passing through said central member and the slots in the other members, and a nut at the end of said screw for'clam ing the front and rea'r'members in adjusted sltion.

and an upright supporting extension formed at its front end, said extensionbeing bent backward on itself; into contact with said base. to stiffen the structure, and a second rst member, said second member being provided with an upturned lip-at the front for 5. A sheet inetiiliholder the. class de-r scribed, p ising a member having a b gagement with said central member, said 'front member being provided with alongicooperating with said uprightextension to 1 support the desiredarticle in substantially upright position, said'lip being adjustable toward and'away from said extension to acond member in-adjusted position..-

.:.'commodate articles of, different thicknesses y. and ja clamping device for holdingthe sece, A, sheet an holder-of the class described, comprising ahorizontally adjustable holding portion for receiving and susupright position, a. base portlon horizontally extensible with respect to said article, and

a connecting member secured at one end to the rear. of said extensible baseportion and at the other end provided with means for ng the desired article in substantially attachment to the supported articleto pres vent accidental forward tilting thereof.

A sheet metal holder of the class dean upright supporting extension formed at its front end, a front member in slidable engagement with said central member, said front member having an upturned lip which cooperates with .said' upright extension to 1 support the desired article in substantially upright position, a base member 'slidably' connected with" said central member to vary 'the' effective base length of. the holder, and

slidably connected a flexible connecting member secured at one end to the rear of said base member and at the other end provided with means for attachment to the supported article to prevent accidental forward tilting thereof.

8. A sheet metal holder of the class described, comprising a horizontally adjustable holding portion at the front end for receiving and sustaining the desired article in substantially upright position, said holding port-ion including a flat base section ofiset to rest upon the supporting surface underneath, and a horizontally disposed and extensible base member provided at the rear with a downwardly turned bearing flange, the holder resting entirely upon said flat base section at the'front and said flange at the rear.

9. A sheet metal holder of the class described, comprising a central member having an upright supporting extension formed at its front end, a front member in slidable enwith said central member, said front member including a fiat base section offset with respect to said central member provided at the front with an upturned l' which cooperates with said upright extension to support the desired article in substantially upright position, a base member with said central member to vary the effective base length of the holder, and a downwardly-turned flange at the rear of said base member, said flat base section and said flange forming the sole bearing points of the holder on the supporting surface underneath.

10. A sheet metal holder for cards, pictures and the like, consisting of a holding member and a base member, said holding member comprising a horizontal body section of sheet metal bent at its front end to form a holding portion for receiving and sustaining the desired article in substantially upright position, said body section being provided with longitudinal flanges adapted to be slidably engaged by' said base member, so that the effective base length of the holder may be readily varied, and a flexible connecting member secured at one end to the rear end of said base member and at the other end provided with means for attachment to the supported article to prevent accidental forward tilting thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of May, A. D. 1911.

JAMES MURRAY WASHBURN.

Witnesses:

A. A. THOMAS, M. H. DOOLEY. 

